We are often blind to our own environment because of our assumptions, framed by media, insular thinking and our own prejudices. Smart City Consulting's blog – named one of the most intriguing in the U.S. by Pew Partnership for Civic Change – hopes to show how Memphis really is and could be through alternative questions, fresh approaches and new ideas. We hope to open your eyes - and your ears - to a new way of thinking about Memphis. Send ideas and emails to tjones@smartcityconsulting.com.

Friday, August 03, 2007

This Week On Smart City: The Biological City

Cities are like elephants. They get more economical with size. That's the conclusion of Dr. Geoffrey West, president of the Santa Fe Institute. Together with ecologist Jim Brown of the University of New Mexico, he is producing important new insights on how cities grow, why they fade, and what we can do about it.

Also with us is Denise Nunes to talk about her recent experiences as a volunteer reconstructing devastated homes in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. Denise is a Williams College graduate and a native of Evanston, Illinois.

Smart City is a syndicated, weekly hour-long public radio talk show that takes an in-depth look at urban life: the people, places, ideas and trends that affect us all. Host Carol Coletta talks with national and international public policy experts, economists, business leaders, artists, developers, planners and others on the pulse of city life for a penetrating discussion on urban issues.In Memphis,

Smart City is broadcast on WKNO FM, 91.1, at 9 a.m. Sundays. It is also webcast and podcast at the Smart Citywebsite, which also has a listing of broadcast times in other cities and the sign up for a weekly newsletter.